Antisemitism and Active Resistance Theme Analysis

The Nightingale is a novel set during World War II. A central feature of World War II was the Holocaust, a genocide that the Nazi regime carried out against Jewish people. In order to justify their actions, Hitler’s Nazi party spread antisemitism to demonize the millions of Jewish people whom they ruthlessly slaughtered. At the start of the novel, characters like Vianne are unwilling to acknowledge the problem that is growing all around them. Vianne sees antisemitic posters around town and even writes down a list of Jewish people who teach at her school for Beck, a German soldier. At this point, there are not overt signs of hostility directed toward Jewish people, so Vianne does not think it necessary to resist.

However, as conditions worsen, Jewish people, including Vianne’s best friend Rachel, are the first ones to experience direct persecution. Toward the end of the novel, the Nazis gather all of the Jewish people throughout France and send them to labor camps in Germany. It is only after Vianne witnesses a Nazi shoot Sarah, Rachel’s daughter, and watches Rachel herself get sent away on a train that she realizes the cost of her refusal to act. Now aware of the indescribable evils of which the Nazis are capable, Vianne makes it her mission to save as many Jewish children as possible from Nazi persecution. Although she puts her life and Sophie’s life in danger, Vianne manages to save 19 Jewish children. Even though most people would consider her a war hero, the past haunts Vianne; she feels she could have done more to stand up to the Nazis like Isabelle did. Here, the novel becomes a parable about the virtues of resistance in the face of pure evil. Although remaining inactive to protect oneself and one’s family is understandable, Vianne’s lingering guilt suggests that only active resistance can provide a clear conscience.